A new £150,000 facility to train people to lay and repair water mains and service pipes was officially opened on Wednesday 14 May.

The Energy and Utilities Training Site at Uxbridge College is almost identical to a real water mains system, including having water running through a standard mains pipe, so trainees can get on-the-job type experience.

The project has been funded and developed by Uxbridge College, Clancy Docwra and Hillingdon Council. It was officially opened on 14 May with guests including the Mayor of Hillingdon Councillor Catherine Dann, members of the local community, and construction industry professionals.

The opening event included a 'drilling and tapping' demonstration by experts from Clancy which showed how the facility would be used.

Drilling and tapping involves drilling a hole in the mains pipe in order to attach a service pipe - a smaller pipe which supplies water to a building - a process known as 'tapping'.

The facility at Uxbridge College's campus in Park Road, Uxbridge, was designed and built by specialists from Clancy Docwra, of Harefield.

Laraine Smith, Principal of Uxbridge College, said: "This facility is one of the only one of its kind in any college in the UK. We are proud to have worked with Clancy Docwra and Hillingdon Council to make it possible.

"The Energy and Utilities Training Site will give trainees the chance to learn how to lay and maintain water pipes in a live environment."

Seamus Keogh, Internal Resources Director at Clancy Docwra, said: "Clancy Docwra is delighted to be sharing its 50 years of expertise and success in the Energy and Utilities sector with Uxbridge College and Hillingdon Council in this project.

"As a business which works at the heart of the community, this development is of key importance in maintaining and improving standards of excellence for the benefit of our clients and members of the public."

Ian Edwards, Head of Partnerships at Hillingdon Council, said: "We are delighted that the facility will be used not only to upskill existing utilities workers but also to train the workforce of the future, local young people, equipping them with skills and qualifications to enable them to gain jobs within the construction industry."

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